At least 15 newborns die in fire at Islamabad’s PIMS hospital after AC compressor explodes

A fire that broke out early Wednesday in the nursery of the gynaecology ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) killed at least 15 newborn babies, hospital officials and rescue sources said.

Sixteen infants were in the nursery at the time of the blaze. Only one child was rescued. Rescue sources said the fire started around 6:45–7 a.m. after an air-conditioner compressor exploded inside the nursery. The flames were later extinguished, and firefighters continued cooling operations at the site.

The incident occurred on the third floor of the hospital’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) ward. District administration officials reported that rescue teams, including six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances, responded promptly after the emergency call.

Hospital spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil told local media that the fire appeared linked to a short circuit, though rescue sources attributed it to the compressor explosion. She noted that some babies may have been discharged overnight, so the exact casualty figure was still being confirmed. An inquiry committee has been formed to determine the precise cause.

The government-run PIMS facility is one of Islamabad’s largest hospitals. Officials described the event as a developing situation, with some reports indicating additional infants remained in critical condition.